Have Swans ever sounded more Christmassy?

Fahey’s playing feels deliberately restrained, like he’s suppressing whatever’s bubbling beneath these compositions. Sometimes sinister; always familiar.

Sometimes unremarkable, sometimes the good captain as his magic band sound like Earth being torn asunder..click clack click clack

Can everyone stop talking about Trout Mask Replica please.

Stop that. Bring it back. This shit is HOT.

Most of these beats are begging for someone to come in and shell it, but the rapping is kinda zzzzzz

Gucci was untouchable here.

If terriers have a prey drive, Scott Walker has an unnerving the hoes drive. Good stuff.

After the recent Chip release I had to come back to this. THIS is a grime record.

Man’ll jack man for the Gameboy DS. RAGS.

Not really breaking the mould, but still a good time. An album for Sundays.

It’s been so cool to see DJ Smokey getting his flowers of late. Evil Wayz feels like the first time he really flexed his muscles as a producer, and helped lay a foundation for so many future waves.

Protect DJ Smokey at all cost.

Grime’s about DJs and the dance and the energy in the room as much as it is about bars. It’s tough to get right on an album, as shown here.

Probably won’t be coming back to this a lot, but it’s nice to see that people still care about Grime.

Utterly uninspiring MOR drivel.

Background music for coworking spaces.

Overhated here.

A very polite record, stacked with strange sounds and Beach Boys harmonies. Utterly charming.

Townes Van Zandt is the Diego Maradona of the troubadour tradition.

Lunar moss.

Music for ripping cigs inside to.

When it hits it hits, but bloody hell there are some dirges on this.

Starts very strong, slowly deteriorates, then gets back on track with the final song.

紅豆 is more drawn out and less enjoyable than trench warfare, but somehow seems to be the biggest track on this record?

Don’t know what I’m missing here. It’s trying really hard but doesn’t move me at all.

Most overrated album this year?

Dripping in a kind of zen hatred. Increases bench press 1RM by 12.5%.